Law students at Northumbria Law School had the opportunity to air their views on shaping the judiciary for the 21st Century in a regional conference organised by the UK Association of Women Judges (UKAWJ) last week.
With an audience of men and women, made up of academics and students from the Bar Vocational Course and Legal Practice Course, the main topic for discussion was “The Legal Profession in 2009 – Level playing Field or Uphill Struggle”. While the main emphasis of the discussion was on access to the legal profession and to the judiciary for women, there was a broader discussion about access generally in terms of social mobility.
With her Honour Judge Judy Moir Chairing the event, the panel comprised: Baroness Brenda Hales, President of the UKAWJ, Mrs Justice Laura Cox, Vice-President of the UKAWJ, Deputy District Judge Tina Bond from Newcastle and Caroline Smith, a barrister for Chare Chambers in Newcastle.
The panel session was followed in the evening by a dinner at Trinity House, attended by a large number of local legal practitioners, judges and academics. Baroness Hale addressed the audience with a speech referring to the issues facing women in the legal profession and access to the judiciary.
Vice-President of UKAWJ, Mrs Justice Laura Cox, said of the event:
“This was an extremely interesting and successful event, well-attended by the legal practitioners of the future and those involved in teaching them, whose questions led to a lively discussion on the kind of profession and judiciary we should have in the 21st century and the extent to which this can be achieved.”
Notes to Editors
- For further information concerning the UK Association of Women Judges please visit www.ukawj.org
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